The NCAA and the Ohio State University’s compliance office are conducting an independent investigation of Terrelle Pryor amid allegations that the star quarterback may have received cars and other extra benefits, sources told The Dispatch today.

Pryor has been questioned by OSU compliance officials in the past, but sources said this is the most significant inquiry to date. He already has been interviewed at least once by investigators within the past few weeks, sources said.

Pryor and the cars he drives have been an issue since he arrived on campus three years ago. Pryor has been connected to more than a half dozen vehicles during his time at Ohio State, according to sources.

For one of the most coveted high school recruits in the last decade, Terrelle Pryor sure was a bust. He can’t totally be fingered as the guy who brought down the OSU program, but depending on how this car situation turns out, he certainly will be in the discussion (down the list after after see-no-evil, hear-no-evil Jim Tressel, of course). I don’t even think Pryor will have a productive pro career – unless he considers playing receiver, H-Back or tight end.